Orono to purchase land for new public works garage

ORONO, Maine — The Orono town council unanimously approved a motion on Monday evening to allow the town manager to purchase land for a new public works garage.

The town has entered into a purchase agreement with Andrew Perkins for a lot of land on Kelley Road that stretches to the Caribou Bog, according to Orono Town Manager Sophie Wilson.

The land is known as Map 26 Lot 3 in the Orono Property Tax Maps. It is located between Stillwater Avenue and Interstate 95. As part of the purchase and sale agreement, the town must exercise the option before the end of the year.

Wilson did not have acreage numbers for the meeting, but the price of the land is $150,000. The Orono Property Tax Map lists the land as 49 acres. There is $537,530 in the public works garage reserve fund.

“The plan is to eventually float a bond so we’ll repay ourselves the purchase price into that reserve account,” Wilson said at the meeting.

The land passed Maine Department of Environmental Protection tests, she said.

A public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 13 at the town office to consider a public work garage application to the Maine DEP.

In other business, the council unanimously voted to table an order to appoint David Morrison to the Orono-Veazie Water District board of trustees.

Current board member Scott Hall chose not to be reappointed to his position after his term expires on Dec. 31.

The council wanted to see if there were more candidates and to see a resume for Morrison to fill the five-year term.

“I’m sure Mr. Morrison is a fine person, but I’d like to know what his qualifications are,” said Council Chairman Geoff Gordon.